Designer Laura Day says a variety of surfaces and layering is key to making any room more interesting. Get the tips on adding texture into your home design.

If you want a cozy look and feel, choose wood, plush fabrics, woven surfaces, and natural fabrics for the floors and surfaces to add texture to a room. If a streamlined look is what you're after, try lacquer, plastics, metals, and glass. The best rooms have a perfect balance of both.

2. Create Balance

In a room with ultra-sleek floors, try using an animal print or fluffy rug. Alternatively, use furniture with highly textured upholstery.

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3. Use Nature

Draw inspiration from nature. Try using shells, stones, horns, feathers, and the unexpected, like cotton blossoms and birch branches, as decorative objects.

4. Make it an Accent

Texture can be used in place of color in a monochromatic scheme. Instead of accent colors, think accent textures and surfaces.

5. Play With Lighting

Lighting schemes can play a crucial role in adding textural surfaces to any room; while some materials and objects reflect light, others can create visually interesting shadows.

6. Transform Your Walls

Walls are a great surface to play up texture. Choices include high-gloss paints, grass cloth, shell, leather wall tiles, and Venetian plaster.

7. Moderate

As with most things, texture should be used in moderation. Knowing where to start is important, but not as important as knowing when to stop.